Sudan: Flash Floods - Aug 2013

Glide: FF-2013-000091-SDN

Overview

Unusually heavy rains and subsequent floods affected tens of thousands of families across Sudan in August and September 2013. The flooding was extensive and resulted in the displacement of a large part of the affected population. Reports from the Humanitarian Aid Commission
(HAC) estimated that 499,900 people countrywide had been affected. The floods destroyed/damaged over 85,385 houses in the states affected, with Khartoum being the worst affected state. (IFRC, 21 May 2014)

Background: Heavy rain hit Sudan in August 2013 with subsequent flash floods in different parts of the country. This study investigated the impact of the flooding on incidence of malaria in Almanagil Locality in central Sudan.

Beginning in 2011, WHO underwent a restructuring of its emergency work to align it with the ongoing reform of the global humanitarian system led by the Inter-agency Standing Committee (IASC). This report describes the emergency risk and crisis management work of the Organization in 2013 and 2014, in the wake of this restructuring, and provides examples of how its new policies and procedures guided the implementation of specific activities for risk management and emergency response.

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- Impartiality – We maintain impartiality in the selection of our staff. The selection of our beneficiaries purely is on a needs basis and not based on race, religion and/or political affiliation.
- Staff Integrity – We maintain a workforce who adhere to high moral and ethical principles.
- Continuous Improvement – We monitor and evaluate our work in order to improve on our past experiences and provide better humanitarian services as we progress.

This revised Emergency Appeal supports the Sudanese Red Crescent Society to deliver assistance to some 213,000 people (an increase from 150,000 people), and increases the budget to CHF 5.3m (from CHF 3.7m), with a total appeal timeframe of 24 months.

With the current contributions (cash and in-kind) totalling some CHF 1,028,462 (28% of the current budget), the total revised amount being sought is just over CHF 4.3 million.

As Chairperson I have the great privilege of working with extraordinarily dedicated Council members and staff throughout the organisation. The commitment to working with the poorest people in the developing world and fulfilling our mission is very evident throughout the organisation.

“We have lived in this area for many years with farmers practicing irrigation using water from the Nile river,” says Mustarifa Mohammed, a resident of Al Burgeg Locality in Northern State, Sudan. “To us, rain is alien and we can go on for years before receiving any.”

So when heavy rains and flash floods started inundating their villages last August, it was totally unexpected.

Central African Republic: While the capital Bangui remains relatively calm, the security situation in the northwest of the country remains highly volatile with several clashes reported between ex-Seleka and anti-Balaka factions. An estimated 902,000 people are now internally displaced as a result of the ongoing violence - half of them in the capital, and over 246,000 people have fled to neighbouring countries. Meanwhile, the European Union has approved the six-month deployment of a joint contingent of up to 1,000 soldiers to support French and African Union forces.

South Sudan: Ethnic violence which erupted in mid-December continues, with heavy fighting reported in the states of Jonglei and Unity, and sporadic clashes reported in Upper Nile and Central Equatoria. While numbers cannot be verified due to limited access, thousands of people have been killed or injured and reports indicate that civilians are being targeted in attacks, forcing an estimated 400,000 to flee, mostly internally.

South Sudan: Ethnic violence which erupted in mid-December in the capital Juba has now spread northwards and is ongoing in several parts of the country. Three weeks of fighting have left at least 1,000 people dead and displaced over 200,000. As government troops advanced on rebel-held cities in the northeast, peace talks between the Government of South Sudan and a delegation representing former Vice-President Machar, have started in Ethiopia. Meanwhile, discussions between Khartoum and Juba regarding the protection of the oil fields in southern South Sudan are also underway.

ShelterBox has provided emergency education support for communities affected by severe flooding in parts of Sudan’s White Nile state this summer, distributing SchoolBoxes containing stationery packs to displaced schoolchildren through implementing partner Plan.

Children’s charity Plan Sudan and ShelterBox worked with The Peace Bridge Association (PBA) and Sudanese Development Call Organization (NIDAA) to select the most needy schools and pupils in the area of Sharg Elnil in White Nile State.